Great Living Chola Temples

The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire, which stretched over all of south India and the neighbouring islands. The site includes three great 11th- and 12th-century Temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram, built by Rajendra I, was completed in 1035. Its 53-m vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with the straight and severe tower at Thanjavur. The Airavatesvara temple complex, built by Rajaraja II, at Darasuram features a 24-m vimana and a stone image of Shiva. The temples testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites India

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are important places of cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. There are 37 World Heritage Sites located in India. These include 29 cultural sites, seven natural sites and one mixed site. India has the sixth largest number of sites in the world. Recently, Orchha is enlisted in the tentative list of UNESCO. The Seventh Wonder of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taj Mahal is not merely a site that brings us to the pages of history; it is an epitome of true love, brilliant architecture and artistic precision. The white-marble mausoleum was commissioned by Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumta Mahal, way back in 1632. And to complete the masterpiece it took about 22 years and as much as 20,000 artisans.

Agra Fort Date of Inscription: 1983
Agra Fort
Ajanta Caves Date of Inscription: 1983
Ajanta Caves
Ellora Caves Date of Inscription: 1983
Ellora Caves
Taj Mahal Date of Inscription: 1983
Taj Mahal
Sun Temple, Konârak Date of Inscription: 1984
Sun Temple, Konarak
Mahabalipuram Date of Inscription: 1984
Group of Monuments Mahabalipuram
Churches and Convents of Goa Date of Inscription: 1986
Churches and Convents of Goa
Fatehpur Sikri Date of Inscription: 1986
Fatehpur Sikri
Hampi Date of Inscription: 1986
Group of Monuments at Hampi
Khajuraho Date of Inscription: 1986
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Elephanta Caves Date of Inscription: 1987
Elephanta Caves
Great Living Chola Temples Date of Inscription: 1987, 2004
Great Living Chola Temples
Pattadakal Date of Inscription: 1987
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
Sanchi Date of Inscription: 1989
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi Date of Inscription: 1993
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
Qutb Minar Delhi Date of Inscription: 1993
Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
Mountain Railways of India Date of Inscription: 1999,2005,2008
Mountain Railways of India
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya Date of Inscription: 2002
Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka Date of Inscription: 2003
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park Date of Inscription: 2004
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) Date of Inscription: 2004
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Red Fort Complex Date of Inscription: 2007
Red Fort Complex
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur Date of Inscription: 2010
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
Hill Forts of Rajasthan Date of Inscription: 2013
Hill Forts of Rajasthan
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat Date of Inscription: 2014
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar Date of Inscription: 2016
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks Date of Inscription: 1988,2005
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar Date of Inscription: 2016
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier
Historic City of Ahmadabad Date of Inscription: 2017
Historic City of Ahmedabad
Kaziranga National Park Date of Inscription: 1985
Kaziranga National Park
Keoladeo National Park Date of Inscription: 1985
Keoladeo National Park
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Date of Inscription: 1985
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Sundarbans National Park Date of Inscription: 1987
Sundarbans National Park
Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area Date of Inscription: 2014
Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai Date of Inscription: 2018
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
Western Ghats Date of Inscription: 2012
Western Ghats

Khangchendzonga National Park Date of Inscription: 2016
Khangchendzonga National Park
World Heritage Sites Rajasthan
World Heritage Sites Rajasthan